Project Grant H79SP083469

PISCATAQUIS YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION COALITION'S STOP PISCATAQUIS YOUTH DRINKING: A PROJECT TO REDUCE YOUTH ACCESS AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF CONSEQUENCES FROM ALCOHOL USE. - NORTHERN LIGHT MAYO HOSPITAL 897 W MAIN STREET, DOVER-FOXCROFT, ME 04426 PROJECT DIRECTOR: HILLARY STARBIRD CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: 207.564.4184 EMAIL ADDRESS: HSTARBIRD@NORTHERNLIGHT.ORG HTTPS://WWW.NORTHERNLIGHTHEALTH.ORG/MAYO MRH CORP., (DBA NORTHERN LIGHT MAYO HOSPITAL (MAYO)) IN COORDINATION WITH THE PISCATAQUIS YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION COALITION (PYSUP) HAS DEVELOPED A PROGRAM TO MEET THE SIGNIFICANT NEED IN THE POPULATION OF FOCUS TO REDUCE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION BY YOUTH. THE POPULATION OF FOCUS (POF) FOR OUR PROPOSED PROJECT IS YOUTH AGED 12-20 RESIDING IN PISCATAQUIS COUNTY, MAINE WHO INDICATE A VERY LOW PERCEPTION OF RISK RELATED TO UNDERAGED ALCOHOL, INCLUDING LOW PERCEPTION OF RISK FROM CONSUMPTION OF FIVE OR MORE DRINKS. CORRESPONDINGLY, THIS POF INDICATES HIGHER THAN STATE AVERAGES FOR PAST-30-DAY CONSUMPTION OF "5 OR MORE DRINKS AT ONE TIME". THE POF ALSO REFLECTS CONCERNINGLY HIGH PERCENTAGES OF YOUTH WHOSE PEER PERCEPTION OF DISAPPROVAL OF ALCOHOL USE IS LITTLE OR NOT WRONG. GIVEN THE MARGINS OF ERROR IN THE 2020 CENSUS, WE ESTIMATE THE POF TO BE 1600 INDIVIDUALS. ALL LOCATIONS IN PISCATAQUIS COUNTY, WHERE THIS POF RESIDES, ARE DESIGNATED RURAL AND ELIGIBLE FOR RURAL HEALTH GRANTS ACCORDING TO THE U.S. HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (HRSA). SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION RESOURCES ARE SCARCE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS RELY ON STRONG COLLABORATION WITH MULTI-SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH REMOTE TOWNS AND RESIDENTS THE PYSUP COALITION WILL UTILIZE THE STOP ACT GRANT TO ACHIEVE ITS GOAL OF REDUCING YOUTH ALCOHOL USE AND INCREASING YOUTH PERCEPTION OF RISK OF BEING CAUGHT. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL THE PYSUP COALITION WILL DEVELOP A 12-MONTH ACTION PLAN EACH YEAR OF FUNDING THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE MIYHS DATA, AND WHICH IS IN COORDINATION WITH LOCAL DFC ACTIVITIES. COMPLIANCE CHECKS WILL ENHANCE PROTECTION AGAINST YOUTH OBTAINING ALCOHOL AND TWO TOWNHALL MEETINGS AND SEASONAL MAILERS AND INFORMATIONAL CAMPAIGNS WILL SUPPORT COMMUNITY MEMBERS' EDUCATION REGARDING YOUTH ALCOHOL USE. PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL AND STATE AGENCIES WILL ENHANCE ACCESS, REDUCE BARRIERS, AND IMPROVE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SYSTEMS AND SERVICES THAT PREVENT YOUTH ALCOHOL USE. TIPS TRAININGS WILL BE PROVIDED TO ALCOHOL RETAILERS AND SERVERS AND STAFF OF AREA ESTABLISHMENTS. THE COALITION'S SECOND OBJECTIVE OF DECREASING YOUTHS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY WILL NOT BE CAUGHT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL BE ACHIEVED VIA PARTY PATROLS PROVIDED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, AND EDUCATION FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS PROVIDED AT TOWN HALLS. THE WORK PLAN/TIMELINE OF THIS STOP ACT GRANT APPLICATION HAS BEEN CRAFTED TO BE COMPLEMENTARY TO THE ACTIVITIES ALREADY FUNDED UNDER PYSUP'S DFC GRANT ACTIVITIES WITH NO PROGRAMMATIC, BUDGETARY, OR COMMITMENT OF PERSONNEL TIME OVERLAP.